S1107-119

What This Bill Does

The MATCH Act of 2025 (Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act) amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to allow state governments, local governments, and Indian Tribes to begin emergency watershed protection work before signing formal agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture. Currently, these entities must wait for official federal agreements before starting disaster cleanup, which can delay critical response efforts.

Who Benefits and How

State and local governments, and Indian Tribes benefit directly by gaining the ability to start emergency watershed cleanup immediately after natural disasters rather than waiting for federal paperwork. Pre-agreement costs they incur can count toward their required contribution to the project once an agreement is signed, allowing them to act quickly while still receiving federal cost-sharing support.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Agriculture takes on new administrative responsibilities, including developing a list of pre-approvable emergency measures within 180 days and creating state-level procedures for sponsors to request additional measures. State and local governments and Tribes also bear risk: if they start work before an agreement and no federal agreement is reached, they must cover those costs themselves.

Key Provisions

• Defines "sponsors" as state governments, local governments, and Indian Tribes eligible for the program
• Requires the Secretary to publish a list of pre-approvable emergency watershed measures within 180 days
• Creates a state-level procedure for sponsors to request additional pre-agreement measures for specific disasters
• Allows pre-agreement costs to count toward a sponsor's required cost-share contribution
• Explicitly states sponsors assume all financial risk for work done before an agreement is signed
• Clarifies the Secretary is not required to enter agreements with sponsors